Local lawmakers say federal pot legalization unlikely in near future

While former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank was an outspoken advocate of relaxing restrictions on marijuana, southeastern Massachusetts’ current representatives in Washington largely take a different approach to the issue. “While it is unlikely to ever reach the federal level because criminal laws ...

While former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank was an outspoken advocate of relaxing restrictions on marijuana, southeastern Massachusetts’ current representatives in Washington largely take a different approach to the issue.

“While it is unlikely to ever reach the federal level because criminal laws are primarily governed by the states, I would not support it at the federal level,” U.S. Rep. William Keating, D-Mass., said in a statement provided by his office.

In recent years, though, a handful of federal legislators, including Frank, have filed bills to decriminalize cannabis. Typically, the bills are promptly shipped off to committee to die. Frank introduced legislation in 2008 and 2011 to remove federal criminal penalties for possession of up to 100 grams of marijuana and the not-for-profit transfer of up to 1 ounce.

Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., filed a proposal last month to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level and tax it, leaving states with the authority to regulate the drug. The bill was referred to committee, and analysts rate its chances of being enacted as poor.

Also last month, Oregon Democrat Earl Blumenauer filed a House bill that would prevent the federal government from interfering in the 19 states that have legalized medical marijuana. His bill would allow states to legalize medical marijuana, ending the discrepancy between state and federal regulations. That discrepancy between state and federal law has in some cases led to federal raids of medical marijuana dispensaries operating under state law in places such as California.

“When you look at other states, we haven’t been able to do it very well,” Kennedy said in a debate last year.

Kennedy, a former assistant district attorney in Middlesex County, could not be reached for comment for this report, but a press aide elaborated on the lawmaker’s position.

“As a former prosecutor, Joe believes that reforms made to the regulation of any drug must be approached carefully,” Kennedy spokeswoman Emily Browne said. “He has not supported recent, state-level efforts to loosen restrictions around marijuana because of serious concerns over the potential for abuse. That being said, he does understand the relief medical marijuana can offer those suffering from chronic illness and would take a look at any thoughtful federal legislation to that effect.”

She added that Kennedy would carefully review any legislation presented to him, “but has serious concerns about the public health and safety consequences of legalization for recreational purposes — whether at the state or federal level.”

In 2008, when he was Norfolk County’s district attorney, Keating spoke in opposition to the statewide ballot question that decriminalized possession of less than 1 ounce of marijuana, citing studies that suggest cannabis is a gateway to more potent drugs.

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Last year, Keating was recorded as voting against an amendment to prohibit the use of federal funds to prevent individual states from implementing state laws that authorize the use of medical marijuana. The amendment, which was filed onto an appropriations bill for the Department of Commerce and Department of Justice, failed in a 163-262 vote.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s office did not return calls for comment.

Asked in a radio interview last fall if she supported the Massachusetts ballot question to legalize the medical use of marijuana, Warren said she was in favor of allowing doctors to prescribe something that can help ease a patient’s suffering, provided the substance is properly regulated.